Charges eyed for ex-Blackwater chief

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Washington - Federal prosecutors are considering filing weapons charges against former top officials of the Blackwater Worldwide private security company over allegations they illegally stockpiled automatic rifles at the company's North Carolina headquarters, The Associated Press has learned. Senior Justice Department officials are reviewing a draft indictment against former president Gary Jackson, former Blackwater lawyer Andrew Howell, and a third man who used to work at the firm's armory, people close to the case told the AP. A decision is not expected until at least next month.

Any indictment, even of former executives, would be unwelcome news at a company beleaguered since a 2007 shooting involving Blackwater guards in Baghdad left 17 people dead. Under a new name, Xe, the firm is trying to win Defense Department (web) approval to train police in Afghanistan. The contract could be worth up to $1 billion but has drawn the ire of some in Congress.

The potential charges stem from a raid conducted by federal agents in 2008 that seized 22 weapons, among them 17 AK-47s.

Multiple law enforcement officials familiar with the case said investigators are trying to determine if Blackwater obtained the official letterhead of a local sheriff to create a false justification for buying the guns. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.


Read more: http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0310/718555.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. Rec'd

This should prove to be interesting.

[Hubert Flottz]

2. Laws are for poor people and democrats.

Wealthy republicans and their henchmen are exempt.

[Kolesar]

3. Hope he doesn't go "Koresh" on the feds...eom

[truthisfreedom]

4. One billion dollars to train soldiers. Seriously?

With a billion dollars, I could stop all wars everywhere.

[Hannah Bell]

5. a billion to train soldiers for afghanistan? for how many years?

[14thColony]

7. To train national police actually

According to the article. When I was there US and other NATO forces trained the Army (but then again were were also training the national police, so not sure what changed there).

[Hannah Bell]

8. there are only 25 million people in afghanistan, how many police do they need?

why does training cost so much?

[14thColony]

9. It's a good question

The answer depends on where we want to end up and when. Afghanistan is a very big country with a very dispersed population. If we/the AFG gov want to eventually get to a state of 'normalcy' where the army is strictly concerned with external threats and plays no role in internal arrairs, then you need a lot of time, police, and money. More of all three than can realistically be had.

If we/they accept the army will have to continue is some way in ensuring internal security in support of the police, it will still take time, training, and more police than they have now. Training is the key though. The national police are poorly-trained, poorly-motivated, and are often times a bigger threat to the locals than the insurgents.

That said Blackwater/Xe is the last bunch in the world that should train anyone outside perhaps right-wing South American death squads, and whatever they're getting paid it's too much for too long.

Edit 'cause I didn't answer your original question. Not sure why this would cost a cool billion, although I suppose paying out bribes, hush money, kick-backs and other such business costs have to be recuped somewhere. I've got a feeling it's an order of magnitude more than if German, American, Romanian, etc. military police specialists were to continue to do the training.

[saigon68]

12. They need millions----- paid for by US Taxpayers

[Posteritatis]

14. Canada has 67,000

A billion dollars in training would come to about $15,000 apiece in that case.

[Solly Mack]

6. k/r

and Erik Prince?

[kpete]

10. AP Exclusive: Sources: Charges eyed for Blackwater's ex-president, others in NC gun case

Source: Associated Press

AP Exclusive: Sources: Charges eyed for Blackwater's ex-president, others in NC gun case

DEVLIN BARRETT and MIKE BAKER
AP News

Mar 23, 2010 07:03 EDT

Federal prosecutors are considering filing weapons charges against former top officials of the Blackwater Worldwide private security company over allegations they illegally stockpiled automatic rifles at the company's North Carolina headquarters, The Associated Press has learned.

Senior Justice Department officials are reviewing a draft indictment against former president Gary Jackson, former Blackwater lawyer Andrew Howell, and a third man who used to work at the firm's armory, people close to the case told the AP. A decision is not expected until at least next month.

Any indictment, even of former executives, would be unwelcome news at a company beleaguered since a 2007 shooting involving Blackwater guards in Baghdad left 17 people dead. Under a new name, Xe, the firm is trying to win Defense Department approval to train police in Afghanistan. The contract could be worth up to $1 billion but has drawn the ire of some in Congress.

The potential charges stem from a raid conducted by federal agents in 2008 that seized 22 weapons, among them 17 AK-47s.

Read more: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/03/ap_exclusive_sources_charges_eyed_for_blackwater.php

[msongs]

11. blackwater should be cut off and forced to earn its living in the private sector only nt

[Heywood J]

16. Stop at "cut off" and you'll have me onboard.

I don't want those SOBs at the beck and call of the private sector, when it's being alleged that they illegally stockpiled weapons! Somebody like Goldman Sachs would be only too happy to use them for "placating the masses"...

[defendandprotect]

18. +1000%

[G_j]

13. K&R

[avaistheone1]

15. Book 'em Dano

and throw away the key.

[defendandprotect]

17. K&R . . .